PATINA HOME & GARDEN IN BLOOM

On a recent morning stroll through the Bloomerie, I was stopped in my tracks. Though we often hurry through our early garden chores, the verdant residents have a way of slowing us down, inviting us to notice their subtleties.

Today, it was our calendula that caught my attention. Its bright orange petals were just beginning to open, gently greeting the day as the morning sun climbed higher into the sky. The name of this herb originates from the Latin calendae, which some translate as “little calendar” or “little clock.” It was given this name because of its tendency to unfurl its petals with the arrival of morning light and close them again as darkness falls, a quiet ritual that speaks to the transformative power of passing time.

As I walked away from the garden, the gentle insights of the stunning blooms stayed with me as I headed to Patina Home & Garden in Leiper’s Fork. As I walked past our Bloomerie plant starts and through our creaky door, I felt as though I were seeing the shop through a different lens, one tinted gold, like the petals of calendula. I couldn’t help but notice all of the subtle shifts we’ve made over the past few weeks, and how they’ve brought the shop into bloom. 

The first thing that greeted me was Shoppe Ada’s new collection of vintage pieces, set against the backdrop of drying flowers from the Bloomerie.  Although made of entirely different materials, their delicate natures complement each other so beautifully, each one's identity enshrined by the forward march of time. 

Then my nose followed the scent of freshly baked sourdough bread, a welcome reminder that Wednesday had rolled around. As this has become part of our weekly rhythm over the last year, that smell has now entwined itself with memories of our regular patrons coming in to pick up their weekly loaf, and the joy they bring with them.

Next, I turned my attention to the new antique pieces that had made their way into the store while I was busy caring for sweet piglets at Patina Meadow. Even on days when the golden calendula flowers aren't blooming, these antiques remind me that beauty blossoms with time.

That same reminder echoes from the vintage guitars in our Picker’s Corner. Each one has been picked up and played countless times over the years, and their sound has only grown fuller, as if they've absorbed the richness of life from every person who ever plucked their strings.

Walking past the front desk, I revisited familiar friends I had walked among that morning, as I looked upon our Bloomerie bouquets and smelled the sweet scent of our garden-scented candles.

On to our beauty counter I went, where I encountered soothing herbs, like the one that began this whole journey, and other natural ingredients carefully crafted into products that help soften some of the roughness that is also a byproduct of passing seasons.

Then I visited the Farm Shop, stocked with my favorite all-natural products to nourish my body throughout the day, from my morning cup of tea to my evening sweet snacks. Including these organic provisions in my day-to-day routine continually draws me back to gratitude for nature and the abundance it provides.

As I peer out the door inscribed with the name of our beloved village, I spot the newest addition to our shop: the Mule Ear Coffee cart. Using only the finest organic ingredients, they craft some of the best coffee we’ve ever had. Word of their delicious offerings has quickly spread through the community, and people now flock to this charming mobile café like bees to a fresh flower.

Finally, I stepped out onto our back porch. With the once-trickling creek flowing heartily after days of rain, and mature, bright green leaves dotting what were once bare branches, I felt grateful to exist in this place at this moment.

While I’ve loved every part of the journey, from the early days when this dream was just a bud, the shop feels like a bloom in the midday sun right now. And I am basking in it.

xx & Love,

Brooke & Leila